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<br />PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, FEBRUARY 1,2007 <br /> <br />2) Discussion of Potential Sign Ordinance Revisions <br /> <br />Associate Planner DaInes informed the Commission there have been a few sign ordinance <br />debates lately in the news; most predominantly in relation to flashing signs. The City of <br />St. Paul has placed a moratorium On signs and the City of Minnetonka is currently <br />involved in a lawsuit with a sign company regarding their definition of signs. The <br />biggest issue is flashing signs; the City's ordinance could include a better definition in <br />this area. Ms. DaInes indicated the City Planners attended a legal seminar put on by the <br />League of Minnesota Cities. There have been 100 court cases in the last three years <br />against cities, three of which have been in Minnesota. .The cities of Hopkins, Eden <br />Prairie and Bloomington have all been sued by local sign companies for their ordinance <br />being based on content regulation. Content regulation is defined by the court as <br />regulating signage by what it says. This is the situation with the City of Ramsey Sign <br />Ordinance. Staff would like direction from the Commission on whether to be strict about <br />the legal interpretation of the ordinance or to step back and wait to see what happens. <br /> <br />The Commission discussed the current sign ordinance and the current legal environment <br />in relation to sign ordinances. <br /> <br />Associate Planner DaInes indicated the City Attorney is in support of proceeding with a <br />sign ordinance revision. <br /> <br />Consensus if the Commission was to direct staff to proceed with a sign ordinance <br />revision as discussed above. <br /> <br />99 <br />